Provo 2025 Mayoral Candidate Survey: Where Do They Stand on Active Transportation?
BikeWalk Provo reached out to all candidates running in the 2025 Provo Mayoral Election. We asked them to share their vision and priorities for biking, walking, transit, and sustainable development in our city through a range of questions.
But First, Save the Date! Live Debate on October 7th
Mark your calendars for a Provo Municipal Candidate Forum on the evening of Tuesday, October 7th (time/location TBD), hosted by BikeWalk Provo. The forum will focus on pressing issues like:
Safe streets for walking and biking
Smart, people-first development
Public transit and connected neighborhoods
All candidates have been invited, and you'll have a chance to hear directly from them about their visions for Provo’s future. More details will be shared on BikeWalkProvo.org and our social channels soon.
About the Candidate Survey
To complement the forum, we invited all 2025 municipal candidates to respond to a short survey focused on active transportation, land use, and neighborhood access.
Each candidate was asked to answer within 100 words per question and return their responses by Thursday, July 17th.
Responses were received from Marsha Judkins, Eric Mutch, and Thatcher Alain Longman. Incumbent mayor Michelle Kaufusi did not respond to the survey.
We've grouped the responses by topic (not candidate) so you can compare how each person answered a given question.
Candidate responses are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Topic 1: Transportation and Infrastructure
Question 1: Safety First
What are your top 1-2 priorities for making Provo's streets safer for all people outside of cars?
Do you support exploring a citywide "20 is Plenty" speed limit on residential streets?
Do you support the city adopting a Vision Zero strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries, while focusing on safe, healthy, equitable mobility for every resident of our community?
Marsha Judkins
Strategies: Have safe streets listening tours of the city and then work with city planners/traffic engineers to install calming strategies, safer crosswalks, etc. where needed. I would love to do something to encourage students who live within walking distance of schools to walk or ride.
I don’t think the city is ready for a 20 is Plenty at this point on all residential streets–maybe on some where residents support it. What I would like to see is more enforcement of 25 mph and running red lights–laws that aren’t enforced are just guidelines. I would support/promote a campaign to encourage responsible, law-abiding, safe driving; i.e. don’t be distracted/stop at red lights/pedestrian and bicyclist rights, keeping bike lanes clear, etc.
I don’t know enough about Vision Zero, but I do like the idea. I am sickened by the car accidents and preventable deaths. At first glance, it looks like something I would love to support.
Thatcher Longman
I think reducing our dependence on cars and individual transport beyond bicycles and small sized vehicles enables us to shrink our urban roads, which results in heightened risk assessment of public roadways. I prioritize building or updating our roads to be narrow multimodal streets, emphasizing cyclists and pedestrians and dedicating ample resources to our public transit system within these roads. This method works extraordinarily well when paired with a compact urban development model, less so otherwise. This should not only slow down drivers, but also incentivise other means of transport.
I prefer 15 mph limits, but as our cities are currently too spread out, I believe 20 is an adequate limit for residential areas. Public reaction will decide whether that will be implemented.
The Vision Zero strategy is reasonable enough to adopt, although I consider our urban planning to be pivotal.
Eric Mutch
Some of my answers in this survey are going to be very simple. More philosophy than actual plan. 100 words isn't enough to be thorough, and also I am going to heavily rely upon experts in this area. There is going to be a learning curve for me on this topic. That said, A Vision Zero strategy seems to be a no-brainer. Of course I support that initiative. Mobility for all is essential for a healthy city. Its good for the economy, a better life quality for everyone, and of course, most importantly prevents tragedy and preserves life. 20 is plenty is true in many portions of our city where kids and traffic make speed dangerous. Again that's an easy yes. Honestly reducing Car traffic and the need for it are key to making a safer, more accessible city.
Question 2: Investing in Active Travel and Transit
How would you approach increasing and funding infrastructure such as bikeways, shared-use paths, and improved sidewalks and crosswalks for people who bike, walk, scoot, and use transit?
Do you support widening 800/820 N and 2200 N? Why or why not?
Marsha Judkins
I would work with the School District/Schools Safe Routes to School plans and see how the city could support or partner with them to create and fund safe routes to school.
I would advocate for using part of the fifth of a fifth on improving sidewalks, crosswalks, bike paths, etc. I would work with Engineering and Public Works to create a strategic plan which would include these projects.
I do not support widening 800/820 N or 2200 N. There is always more than one way to address congestion. Widening roads often leads to more traffic, not less, and we are left with less safety, less walkability, more noise, and lost neighborhood character. Also, every road we build or widen becomes a financial and social commitment. Roads require maintenance and pull money away from other needs.
Thatcher Longman
Primarily a better balance of CDBG funding and other ongoing grant programs. Establishing additional cost-effective enterprise funds will further help us to implement new infrastructure for our city. We can poll residents to establish need and priority for projects like this, which may or may not be an effective strategy.
I do not think widening roads contribute to significantly improved traffic, nor do I think that it is an appropriate allocation of funds. We may consider establishing more intensive public transit through these roads, which would make widening them a reasonable consideration. As it stands, however, I would not dedicate limited resources to such a project.
Eric Mutch
I don't know everything I need to know to answer this question completely. I CAN say I am deeply concerned with how the eminent domain laws are being used in these areas.
Question 3: Connecting Provo with Trails
What is your vision for expanding and improving both paved and unpaved trails within Provo?
How would you work with relevant organizations to achieve this?
Marsha Judkins
I would work with all stakeholders to create a trails master plan. We would set goals and outcomes in our newly created strategic plan and work to meet those goals.
Thatcher Longman
I think a long term plan for constructing new trails is most beneficial, which would be open to public opinion voiced for more immediate projects. To improve trails, I think that the best method is to have volunteer efforts where possible, working with local school entities to achieve this, which may or may not be feasible.
Eric Mutch
(did not respond to question)
Topic 2: Community and School Routes
Question 1: Safe Routes for Students
How will you enable the city to work with the Provo School District to make it safer and easier for students to walk, scoot, and bike to school?
Marsha Judkins
I have been involved in school safety plans both as a member of Community Councils and when I was on the School Board. I think the City is missing an opportunity by not being a better partner with our local schools and Board on these and other issues.
Thatcher Longman
I envision efforts alongside our infrastructure and urban planning will help to establish safer routes to schools and throughout the city. Whether by constructing bollards or raised curbs between roads and bike lanes, or by circumventing major roads via tunnels. These are highly effective but costly endeavors, I hope to increase revenue to pursue avenues like this. For cost effective methods, we might consider improving visibility, awareness of school zones, or more. I’d work hand in hand with the Provo School District to ensure affordable and effective safety measures.
Eric Mutch
I would love to hear the district's ideas and am completely open to collaborating with them. Its certain they have plans. As mayor this will be a priority.
Question 2: Encouraging Active Lifestyles
What kinds of community programs or initiatives would you support to encourage more people to choose active transportation and transit options for every day trips?
Would you support the city hiring an Active Transportation coordinator? (Fort Collins, CO, a platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community, has 5 full-time employees who work on AT; Provo has zero.)
Marsha Judkins
I have participated in and love the outreach efforts of BikeWalk Provo and the Provo Bike Hub. I would work with these groups and other stakeholders to create opportunities for more people to participate in them. (Bike Prom, Bike Concerts, Bike Tours, walking buses, etc.) I would work to update the master plan to include zoning for neighborhood friendly retail and services in underserved areas of the city.
I don’t know about hiring a FT Transportation Coordinator. I can’t commit to that until I dig into the budget.
Thatcher Longman
We could encourage individuals to have more active transport by restricting roadways in the city, and establishing more dedicated public transit systems. However, if we were to have a more passive approach, a small tax credit to residents without vehicles might incentivise less vehicle usage. I don’t think that we would see any immediate benefit from taking this approach, and I don’t think Provo can afford prioritizing hiring an active transport specialist over more pressing staffing concerns. This is not to say I do not support it, but more so to question its current viability.
Eric Mutch
I am certainly open to the idea of an active transportation coordinator. Provo absolutely should be a leader in these initiatives.
Topic 3: Urban Planning and Development
Question 1: People-Centered Development
How can new developments in Provo contribute to making the city more accessible by giving more space for people to walk or bike, and do you support updating zoning rules to encourage these outcomes?
Marsha Judkins
I support making sure there are bike lanes and safe places to walk and to cross streets. I do support updating zoning rules to encourage this.
Thatcher Longman
I am fully in favor of updating zoning laws to endorse pedestrian travel. I strongly support courtyard building models, which provide enclosures within open buildings for walkways and bike lanes. This model also supports public spaces for events and vendors. This is a kind of development I’m awfully excited and passionate about, and I’d always enjoy questions on it.
Eric Mutch
I think careful review of the zoning laws are in order. A walkable city is the goal, I am going to put the elephant on the table, however, and say that we must be careful not to create more problems than we solve. Everything we do needs to have a purpose and consideration. I know this seems to be simple common sense but single mindedness can lead to blinders and I want us to be careful.
Question 2: Infill and Connectivity
Many Provo neighborhoods have undeveloped lots or empty spaces. How would you encourage building on these "missing pieces" to create more connected, walkable, and bikeable communities?
Marsha Judkins
This is a great question! These undeveloped lots have a lot of potential, and I would like to see them developed in ways that really add to the vibrancy and connectedness of the community around them and to the city. This requires having a vision of how we want our city to look and be into the future, including being more connected, walkable, and bikeable, and then working with the City Council, residents, planners, developers, and other stakeholders to implement this vision. The Master Plan needs to be updated to reflect this.
Thatcher Longman
Following my previous statement; courtyards! If developers or businesses were to follow City regulations for small tax credits in the construction or easier bureaucratic process, resulting in the creation of essentially “walkable” buildings, I’d consider this viable. However, this is a complex task, and would certainly require some caution and study before implementation. I think it is viable in line with outside examples. Often, we do not have developers interested. I would harbor no guilt gathering enough revenue to have Provo construct them for varying city-owned enterprises, barring costing residents their deserved services or increasing costs.
Eric Mutch
In short, ease the bureaucracy. Create incentives and actively attract those businesses which enable our city to be walkable.
Question 3: Access to Stores and Services
As Provo expands, many neighborhoods still lack access to everyday services (i.e. corner markets, daycares, bakeries, restaurants, etc) within walking and biking distance. What role should the city play in encouraging small, local businesses in these areas?
Marsha Judkins
We need to revisit our City Master Plan and update it to fit the real life that we are living now. We need to enable more flexible zoning choices to allow neighborhood friendly retail and services in areas that are underserved, like south and west Provo. I live in one of these areas, and we would love to see this.
Thatcher Longman
I think a long term plan for constructing new trails is most beneficial, which would be open to public opinion voiced for more immediate projects. To improve trails, I think that the best method is to have volunteer efforts where possible, working with local school entities to achieve this, which may or may not be feasible.
Eric Mutch
The city is responsible in a huge way for encouraging commerce into underserved areas. West of the freeway comes to mind. We need to have our zoning, planning and demographics in hand along with easing the bureaucracy involved.
Topic 4: Policy and Vision
Question 1: Integrating Active Transportation and Transit
How will you ensure that the needs of people walking, biking, riding personal mobility aids, and using transit are consistently considered in all relevant city planning and development decisions?
Marsha Judkins
I have always advocated for more voices, especially those with lived experience, to be at the table when decisions are made. We need to make sure that we invite people from all walks of life to be part of the discussions and we also need to make sure that the meetings are accessible to these individuals.
Thatcher Longman
It would be easiest to hire a specialist for these divisions of the city, providing that we have funding of course. I intend to work quite hard to guarantee all future city planning prioritizes a walkable city. While we may not have the resources to alter the city immediately, it is well within my interest as a mayoral candidate to have all following decisions consider such a city model.
Eric Mutch
By insisting upon that. Keeping that topic alive and conversational in every meeting and planning session. Setting expectations and then following up with the questions, How is this accomplishing the goals?
Question 2: Provo's Active Future
What is your long-term vision for Provo as a more bike-friendly and walkable city, and how would you work with UTA to improve transit access, and what are the most crucial steps to begin achieving that vision?
Marsha Judkins
My vision is for Provo to look at best practice to create safe streets for walkers, bikers, and drivers. I support allowing neighborhood friendly retail and services to be zoned/built in communities that are currently having to drive to get anything. I would love for neighborhoods to have gathering places that residents can walk or bike to.
As a legislator, I worked with UTA to get UTA on Demand in West Provo, where we do not have any public transportation options. I would like to see this program available throughout Provo and Orem. I would also like to work on creating a partnership between UTA, Provo School District, and Provo city to share buses and routes if we can find a way that will save money and increase routes in Provo. There are many people who can’t drive, whether because of disability, age, or something else, and it is important to facilitate ways for them to be a part of our community and to get where they want and need to be.
Thatcher Longman
The long-term dream for Provo is to have a green, clean, and keenly accessible city (pardon the rhyme, I have to have fun somehow), prioritizing resident needs and modern urban models. Ideally, Provo would have one lane roads throughout every major area, only growing wider near the perimeter of the city. Within these major areas, services such as bakeries, restaurants, medical offices, local grocers, and vendors should be plentiful. Residential areas should be densely stacked atop these, with corporate businesses alongside them. At the very tops of these tall, efficient, and well insulated buildings would be living roofs and elevated parks (odd, I know, but effective at reducing temperatures and increasing energy efficiency while providing public spaces). Roads should be a secondary thought. But this is all idealism, and likely not viable within the next decade. Although, I intend to work long nights towards it, alongside the people of Provo.
I’m dedicated to working with the UTA to establish uniquely effective transport for residents that permits a fast and comfortable commute throughout an ideal city, and also within our current city model.
The steps towards this grandiose dream are rather simple: solving the question of supporting revenue, an implementation timeline, and collaboration with developers. My current platform aims to address the first via creating new city enterprises that make our economy more robust, and bringing in capital rather than watching it leave our city.
Eric Mutch
The most crucial steps are communication and a will to accomplish the task.
Question 3: Inspirational Models
In one sentence, name a city (in Utah, the US, or beyond) that you admire in terms of its liveability and something you’d like to see Provo emulate.
Marsha Judkins
I don’t know. Provo is pretty unique. There are things I love about a lot of places in terms of liveability. I’ll have to think about this one.
Thatcher Longman
Zurich, Switzerland is a well run, profitable, and high quality of life city that is of a similar position to what Provo reasonably could become.
Eric Mutch
I really love the walkability of Dublin Ireland and the surrounding areas, with the Dart line and bus systems they manage to make a city of millions completely walkable.
Thank You — and Don’t Forget to Vote!
We want to sincerely thank all the candidates who took the time to respond to our survey and share their vision for a more walkable, bikeable, and connected Provo. Your participation helps residents make more informed decisions.
Make your voice heard:
Primary Election: Tuesday, August 12, 2025
General Election: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Visit vote.utah.gov to check your registration, view your ballot, and find your polling place or mail-in options.
You can find a full list of candidates with official bios on the Provo City website, and learn more about how and where to vote at provo.gov/elections.
Questions?
Reach out to info@bikewalkprovo.org or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for updates.
